Students, Faculty At FIU Gather For Candlelight Vigil To Honor Orlando Victims

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The president of Florida International University gave an impassioned plea to students and staff to never let hate and violence dominate their lives but to also be on the lookout for suspicious activity.

Students attended a memorial service, candlelight vigil and donated blood for the Orlando victims, one of whom used to go to school at FIU.

"They're innocent lives. I mean this was a hate crime," said Diamela Arencibia, a senior at FIU.

"There's no words to describe something like this," said Claudia Huarcaya, a junior at the university. "I think many of our friends liked to go out in this environment and now they can no longer feel safe in this environment."

Solidarity pride pins were passed out, featuring a diagonal black stripe across a rainbow.

"FIU stands strong for Orlando. Your tragedy is our tragedy," said Larry Lunsford, the VP of Student Affairs at FIU.

One woman who was wounded at Pulse Orlando nightclub was Laura Vargas, who used to live Doral and who went to FIU after graduating in 2007 from Our Lady of Lourdes Academy which asked for prayers for her on social media.

"This time is a reminder of how precious the moments on this earth are," said Gisela Vega, a student at FIU.

The university president gave students a timely reminder.

"We want to remind all members of our community if they see something, say something," said Mark Rosenberg, FIU's President.

"The behavioral norms have changed and we have to accept the fact and the intent of people around us," he added. "We don't want to have a grim view of reality but we want to have a realistic view."

Rosenberg also gave a message of caution.

"At our university we don't want to let hate dominate. It is important we don't let violence dominate."

Student body President Alain Collazo had very similar feelings.

"There's a big problem in this country and our community when it comes to violence where we don't address it enough and talk about it enough," said Collazo.

"I think we have to be more vigilant but we cannot be paranoid. There is a difference between paranoia and vigilance. We cannot let paranoia make us live a different life."

Students and FIU staff including Chris Lehockey also responded to a plea to donate blood for the victims of the Orlando shooting.

"The important thing is that we come together and hope that something like this will not happen again," said Lehockey.

The blood drive was so successful that hours for the Bloodmobile were extended. It remained on campus until 8:30 p.m.

A spokeswoman for FIU said as of 5:30 p.m., 55 pints had been donated. She also said the Bloodmobile was open to anyone in the community.

The candles will remain on campus indefinitely and were put in place at the Graham Center inside a drawing of a large heart, symbolizing the connection to and caring for the Orlando victims.